Sweet, Juicy, Flavorful Berries Are Always In High Demand

In 2019, the American blackberry industry was valued at over $49 million. To help provide better options for growers and increase the blackberry market, ARS researchers with the Horticultural Crops Research Unit in Corvallis, OR, released two new varieties of blackberry: ‘Twilight’ and ‘Hall’s Beauty.’

‘Twilight’ is a thornless, semierect variety that ripens earlier and offers tougher skin than ‘Triple Crown,’ a current industry standard. Ideal for the fresh blackberry market, it offers additional durability and productive yields of firm, sweet fruit. ‘Hall’s Beauty’ is an early ripening, thornless, trailing blackberry cultivar with large and attractive flowers. It can be grown for both the machine-harvested processed food market and the hand-harvested fresh fruit market.

Explore Other Discoveries

Keepsake Strawberry is a Keeper

ARS scientists developed a new midseason, spring-bearing, or short-day strawberry cultivar, Keepsake.

Spotted Lanternfly Genome Sequenced

A team of ARS scientists in cooperation with Pacific Biosciences published the first genome of the invasive spotted lanternfly.

Using Canines to Detect Citrus Virus

Scientists are using dogs to sniff out citrus orchards for the devastating pathogen HBL, also known as Citrus Greening.

Helping Honey Bee Colonies Chill Out

Putting honey bees into indoor cold storage in October increases their chances of surviving the winter.

Mapping The Asian Giant Hornet’s Genome

ARS is helping lead the mapping of the first complete genome of the Asian giant hornet.

Preventing Soil Nutrient Leaching with Cover Cropping

Researchers determined two cover crops are effective in reducing excess nitrogen and preventing its escape from farmland.